Naperville police find 2 children dead at home

NAPERVILLE – Police officers asked to check in on a home on a quiet suburban Chicago cul-de-sac found two dead children inside, including a kindergartener, and arrested a woman who could face charges, authorities said Wednesday.

Officers were called to the Naperville home Tuesday night to make a well-being check, said Sgt. Louis Cammiso, who did not elaborate on what exactly prompted the request or who placed the call.

He said investigators had someone in custody Wednesday and that criminal charges could be forthcoming. A spokesman for the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office, Paul Darrah, said the person in custody was a woman, but authorities were not identifying her by name.

Police said there was no reason to think anyone else was involved.

Police and the prosecutor's office refused to provide any details about how the children were killed or give their ages. Authorities said there was no press conference scheduled Wednesday.

The quiet neighborhood to the west of Chicago was in shock.

"I'm just devastated by it all," said Della Brinson, 60, who lives on the same cul-de-sac.

Neither she nor her husband heard any disturbance Tuesday night. They learned the news after waking up to the commotion of news crews, helicopters and police cars.

Brinson said she did not think the woman in custody was known around the neighborhood.

"I never did even see the children," she said. "It's a very quiet area. We come and we go, we get in our cars; we don't get to know each other as much as we should."

"I'm praying for the family that they'll recoup from all of this," she said.

Brookdale Elementary School said one of the slain children was a kindergartener there.

"It is with great sadness that we inform you that the Brookdale community mourns the loss of one of our kindergarten students, who passed away last night," Principal Mary Howicz said in a statement on the school's website.

"The district's crisis team is in place this morning to support students and staff as they cope with this news. They will remain in place for as long as necessary as students work through their feelings and grief."